title: Influence of early environmental factors on lymphocyte subsets and gut microbiota in infants at risk of celiac disease; the PROFICEL study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is known that the HLA genotype can explain about a 40% of the genetic risk of celiac disease (CD), thus, other genetic predisposing factors as well as factors that subtly modulate T cell activation and differentiation need to be studied. This includes environmental factors that are currently believed to impact on the immune system and gut microbiota development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the associations between early environmental factors (EEF), lymphocyte subsets, and intestinal microbiota composition in infants at familial risk for CD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five 4 month-old infants with at least a first-degree relative suffering CD. Infants were classified according to type of delivery, mother's antibiotic intake during pregnancy and during labor, milk-feeding practices, early infections and antibiotic intake, rotavirus vaccine administration, and allergy incidence within the first 18 months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocyte subsets and gut microbiota composition were studied at the age of 4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Formula feeding and infant's infections were associated with higher CD3+, CD4+, CD4+CD38+, CD4+CD28+ and CD3+CD4+CD45RO+ counts (P0.01). Infant s infections were also associated with higher CD4+CD25+, CD4+HLA-DR+ and NK cell counts (P0.01). Cesarean delivery and rotavirus vaccine administration were associated with lower percentage of CD4+CD25+ cells. Infant's antibiotic intake was associated and correlated with lower counts of Bifidobacterium longum and higher counts of Bacteroides fragilis group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infant s infections and antibiotic intake in the first 4 months of life are the EEF more strongly and/or frequently associated to lymphocyte subpopulations and microbiota composition, respectively, in infants at risk of CD.
authors.affiliation: Immunonutrition Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain. tpozo@ictan.csic.es
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pozo-Rubio
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Palma
authors.forename: Jorge R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mujico
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivares
authors.forename: Ascensión
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Acuña
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Polanco
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nova
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000502:physiology; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000502:physiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012306:Risk; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines